Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-22
A MIGHTY MAGIAN.

The Comte de Saint German one day re-
lated that he had been on friendly terms with
Pontius PLATE, at Jerusalem. He very MI
nutely described the house of the Roman gov
ernor, and said what dishes had been served
at table the evening he supped at his place.
The conversation then fell on Nine. DIS
nermeuil, whersupon the Comte de Saint
German, full of nerve and prattle. disclosed
che following as yet unpublished facts con-
corning the incident which brought about the
lady's arrest and subsequent execution.
"Mme d'Esnermeuil, - said the comte, "was
- the most beautiful woman In Paris. She was
a widow, and very fond OF meat least
thought so. / received more than one love
uiissive from her and passed many pleasant
evening in her charming villa at Versailles.
"One day she sent me very gracefully
turned epistle, inviting me to a ball, which
was to take place the same evening at her
villa. The handsome widow begged me to
appear in nay most elegant costume, SO as TO
enhance tho brilliancy OF the fete
II felt much fattered at this request and
tried my best 70 comply with it, You may
believe me when say that looked trife
younger than | do now.
Il put on my apple green dress coat, which
fitted ne perfectly; each button on it was a
diamond worth 1000 louis. The pearls and
jewels that adorned my hat could not have
been purchased for 200 louis. l may have
represented o million in jewelrY. In tbs
evening got into my state carriage. Five
lackeys attended, two leading the way with
torches We soon reached the villa Of my
lovely lady friend at Versailles.
81 was surprised on arriving to find nearly
al the windows dark and no appearance of a
ball. inquired of the porter if Mime. d'ES-
nerrneuil was at home. He answered in the
affirmative, and asked me to enter.
II found the lady alone She appeared as
much amazed 10 see me as I.was not to find
company.
"'Comte,' said She to what do 1 owe the
pleasure of your visit?
AS invited-I come to your ball.
Impossible, comte. you have mistaken
the day
81 never mistake
And took the invitation from my pocket
and showed it to Mime. d'Esnermeuil
You are right she said at last, tile error
is mine. Pray excuse me, comte, and do me
the honor to stay to supper with me-
But you know, madame, that l never eat
anything
"'But you drink l have delicious Corinth
wine; you must taste it
"The handsome widow handed me a>giass-
full 1t was not mistruSt-people are not
Suspicious when in love-but an old habit
which induced me to take hold of the glass
with my left hand, on the middle finger of
which | wore a tahsmanic ring that King
Schlomo-the same you cal Solomon-had
given me- On the under side of the ring was
an abrsxas or Bssilidian stone with gnostic
inscription, and hardly had It touched the
crystal surface than the glass was shattered
into q thousand pieces.
THE precious wine from Corinth which
my lady friend had offered me, was poisonedi
At once ] saw as clearly through the whole
thing as if l had looked into magic mirror
But the more embarrassed the lady became,
the more free ] felt, and the more unrestrain-
edly / continued to chat. heard the rumble
of a carriage starting from the door Was it
my own, which had been ordered away!
'Mme. d'ESnermeuil noticed that ! lent an
attentive ear to the noise of the wheels as tie
carriage reeeded in the distance She said
with some confusion:
IL IS my old uncle who returns TO Paris
81 knew better. 1t was my carriage which
had been sent away by lady's maid; the
eoacanlsn and servants were ordered to come
Tor nA at 10 O'Clock the next morning. The
lovely widow soon got so confused that she
could hardly speak. l heard a noise in the
corridor followed by the heavy tread OF men.
Madame turned pale, and rose in hurry to
leave the room.
You would leave me, dearestF said 1,
without further concern.
"She stammered:
Excuse rae. comte My presence is re-
CURED elsewhere. / shall come back pres
entity
But, before she had time 20 leave, darted
into niadame's eyes a magnetic glance in
which my whole power Of will was at once
concentrated.
"Ame. d'Esnermeul stood transfxed, i'm
movable, cs if in q catalept;c fit. mesmerized
drewsily into an armchair.
:"In this state of sonlnambulisn, could
draw from her inmost being her most secret
thoughts.
..She was forced to answer all my questions.
Madame ! said, you meant TO poison
me with your Corinth wineF
Yes, Gid; it contained prussic acid
land what next, having failed in thisP
4 snail have you murdered
by whomf
by my servants
Are your servants ready for the agrees
sionr
They stand outside in the corridor, ready
armed, and await the ringing of my bell to
rush in upon you
How many men are there?
Five
And when | am killed"
Your splendid diamonds shall be mine
Il rang she bell Violently
immediately five rufians, armed with
swords, burst into the room.
But held in nay hand pistol, the magic
property of whose loaf, when exploded,
rendered motouleSs in their attitudes all
those who came within reach Of its range
/ fired on the intruder., who were al five
instantly brought TO dead locE, transmitted
as ii were into stone.
Il turned towards Nine. d'Enermeuil who
vas still IN her trance, and asked whether
these men were al her accomplioes.
"She nodded in the affirmative.
Then, said /. they shall witness your
punishment
AT once collecting all my mental and
physical energies, put the fair widow into
50 deep a state Of trance that ner powers Of
ciairvovance were increased hundredfold.
/ Tneslne.ized her unril her teeth chartered,
and asked her where she was.
"She sighed deeply and muttered:
- f,ss,A-t and